by Gov. Mitch Daniels
Property taxes
Gov. Daniels stated: We are now called to act once again, together, on a great thing that is wanted to be done: to bring lasting fairness and affordability to the taxation of property in our state. The tenets of that framework are well known to each member, and a need no lengthy elaboration here. I ask you to take four - there's that number again- major steps on behalf of taxpayers.
First, immediate relief to every homeowner
Second, permanent protection against the return of unaffordable taxes, through a permanent, constitutional cap of one percent of a home value.
Third, reform our hopelessly unfair assessment system, with its unexplained inaccuracies and its unequal treatment of like properties.
And fourth, genuine limits on total local spending and borrowing, with none of the loopholes and exceptions that have permitted such spending to balloon in recent years. I hope you will join me in giving citizens what they have in most states, a final say over major capital projects through a straightforward referendum.
"I say, trust the people, give them the facts, and let them VOTE."
But we all know that this session has one paramount assignment, one act for which it will be remembered. Property tax reduction in all its dimensions will be hard work, time-consuming work. We must resolve to stay at it until success is achieved. Please don't make spring break reservations without a refundable ticket, because we're all staying as long as it takes!
Freedom of Speech would like to say the problem the General Assembly needs to solve is the legacy of failure where (1) we suffer permanent tax increases for temporary property tax relief and (2) property tax caps disappear. The foundation for genuine property tax relief is a constitutional amendment for a 1% cap on our property taxes that would let us know the maximum property tax we will have to pay on our homes. The 1% cap would provide reassurance that property taxes will be less likely to become an unaffordable burden that could force us out of our homes.
Even those who favor property tax eliminates property tax for individual income tax payers - need to face political reality and support a constitutional amendment for a 1% homeowner property tax cap as a necessary first step for sweeping property tax reform.
Is there a better solution out there?
Never has it been so easy to separate those who are part of the solution from those who are part of the problem. A legislator who supports a constitutional amendment for a 1% homeowner property tax cap is part of the solution, otherwise the legislator is part of the problem.
Below is an up-to-date listing of those legislators who pledge to be:
Part of the Solution
Governor Mitch Daniels - mdaniels@gov.in.gov
Indiana Senate
Jeff Drozde - Smailto:S21@ai.gov
Connie Lawson - S24@ai.org
Tersea S. Lubbers - S30@ai.org
Joseph C. Zakas - S11@ai.org
Indiana House of Representatives
David Cheathem H69@ai.org
Robert W. (Bob) Cherry - H53@ai.org
Bill J. Davis - H33@ai.org
Eric Allan Koch - H65@ai.org
Michael B. Murphy - H90@ai.org
Jeff Thompson - H28@ai.org
P.Eric Turner - H32@ai.org
Part of the Problem
Indiana Senate
Ron Alting - S22@ai.org
Jim Arnold - S8@ai.org
Vaneta G. Becker - S50@ai.org
Pillip L. (Phil) Boots - S23@ai.org
Richard D. Bray - S37@ai.org
Jean Breaux - S34@ai.org
John E. Broden - S10@ai.org
Ed Charbonneau - S5@ai.org
Bob Deig - S49@ai.org
Mike Delph - S29-@ai.org
Gary P. Dillion - S17@ai.org
Sue Errington - S26-@ai.org
David C. Ford - S19@ai.org
Beverly J. Gard - S28@ai.org
Brandt Hershman - S7@ai.org
Glenn L. Howard - S33@ai.org
Lindel O. Hume - S48@ai.org
Robert N. Jackman - S42@ai.org
Luke Kenley - S20@ai.org
Dennis K. Kruse - S14@ai.org
Tim Lanane - S25@ai.org
Sue Landske - S6@ai.org
James (Jim) A. Lewis, Jr. S45@ai.org
David C. Long - S16@ai.org
Robert L. Meeks - S13@ai.org
James W. Merritt, Jr. S31@ai.org
Patricia L. Miller - S32@ai.org
Ryan D. Mishler - S9@ai.org
Frank Mrvan, Jr. - S1@ai.org
Johnny Nugent - S42@ai.org
Allen E. Paul - S27@ai.org
Marvin D. Riegsecker - S12@ai.org
Earline S. Rogers - S3@ai.org
Connie Weigleb Sipes - S46@ai.org
Timothy O. (Tim) Skinner - S38@ai.org
Samuel Smith Jr. - S2@ai.org
Brent E. Steele - S44@ai.org
Karen Tallian - S4@ai.org
Greg Walker - S41@ai.org
Brent Waltz - S36@ai.org
John M.Waterman - S39@ai.org
Thomas K. Weatherwax - s18@ai.org
Thomas J. Wyes S15@ai.org
R. Michael Young - S35@ai.org
Richard D. Young - S47@ai.org
Indiana House of Representatives
Terri Jo Austin - H36@ai.orgDennis Avery - H75@ai.org
Jeb Barden - H25@ai.org
John Bartlett - H95@ai.org
Kreg Battles - H6@ai.org
B.Patrick Bauer - H6@ai.org
Robert W. Behning - H91@ai.org
Matt Bell - H83@ai.org
Robert J. Bischoff - H68@ai.org
Sandra Blanton - H62@ai.org
Bruce A. Borders - H45@ai.org
Randy Borror - H45@ai.org
Brian C. Bosma - H88@ai.org
Charlie Brown - H3@ai.org
Tim Brown - H41@ai.org
Jim Buck - H38@ai.org
Lawrence L. (Larry) Buell - H89@ai.org
Woody Burton - H58@ai.org
Mara Candelaria Rearden - H12@ai.org
William C. Cochran - H72@ai.org
William A. Crawford - H98@ai.org
Dave Crooks - H63@ai.org
Suzanne Crouch - H78@ai.org
John J. Day - H100@ai.org
Nancy Dembowski - H17@ai.org
Tom Dermody - H20@ai.org
Chester F. Dobis - H13@ai.org
Richard "Dick Dodge - H51@ai.org
Cleo Duncan - H67@ai.org
Ryan M. Dversk - H8@ai.org
Sean R. Eberhart - H57@ai.org
Jon Elrod - H97@ai.org
Jeffery K. Espich - H82@ai.org
Ralph M. Foley - H47@ai.org
William C. Friend - H23@ai.org
David N. Frizzell - H93@ai.org
Craig R. Fry - H5@ai.org
Phil GiaQuinta - H80@ai.org
Terry Goodin - H66@ai.org
F. Dale Grubb - H42@ai.org
Eric Gutwein - H16@ai.org
Earl L. Harris - H2@ai.org
Timonthy W. Harris - H31@ai.org
Ron Herrell - H30@ai.org
Phillip D. Hinkle - H92@ai.org
George Phillip Hey - H77@ai.org
Clyde Kersey - H43@ai.org
Shelia J. Klinker - H27@ai.org
Tom Knollman - H55@ai.org
Linda C. Lawson - H1@ai.org
Don Lehe - H15@ai.org
Daniel J. Leonard - H50@ai.org
L. Jack Lutz - H35@ai.org
Carolene Mays - H94@ai.org
Richard W. McClain - H24@ai.org
Joe Micon - H25@ai.org
Win Moses Jr. - H81@ai.org
Timonthy Neese - H48@ai.org
David L. Niezgodski - H7@ai.org
Cindy Noe - H87@ai.org
David Orentlicher - H86@ai.org
Dennie Oxley - H73@ai.org
Scott D. Pelath - H9@ai.org
Phillip Pflum - H56@ai.org
Matt Pierce - H61@ai.org
Phyllis J. Pond - H85@ai.org
Gregory W. Porter - H96@ai.org
Scott Reske - H37@ai.org
Kathy K. Richardson - H29@ai.org
Michael A. Ripley - H79@ai.org
Paul J. Robertson - H70@ai.org
William J. Ruppel - H22@ai.org
Thomas E. Saunders - H54@ai.org
Greg Simms - H10@ai.org
Mile Smith - H59@ai.org
Vernon G. Smith - H14@ai.org
Ed Soliday - H4@ai.org
Steven R. Stemler - H71@ai.org
Greg Steuerwald - H40@ai.org
Dan Stevenson, Sr. - H11@ai.org
Russ Stilwell - H74@ai.org
Marlin A. Stutzman - H52@ai.org
Vanessa J. Summers - H99@ai.org
Amos Thomas - H44@ai.org
Vern Tincher - H46@ai.org
Gerald R. Torr - H39@ai.org
Dennis Tyler - H34@ai.org
John D. Ulmer - H49@ai.org
Trent Van Haaften - H76@ai.com
Shelli VanDenburgh - H19@ai.org
Jackie Walorski - H21@ai.org
Peggy Welch - H60@ai.org
David A Wolkins - H18@ai.org
Freedom of Speech suggest you contact these elected officials and voice your opinion on property taxes!
We would also like to thank the following elected officials, citizens and groups:
Senator Evan Bayh, Senator Delph, Activist Dave Bond, Activist Greg Wilson, Tax repeal activist Abu Henderson, Paul Wheeler (Patriot Paul) Ken Morgan founder of Indiana Voters League, Aaron Smith Taxpayer Watchdog
Representative Cindy Noe, Senator Dennis Kruse, Rep. Jackie Walorski, Senator John Waterman, Senator Brent Steele, Senator Luke Kenley
Chris Hiatt of Citizens of Delware County
David Coker - Taxpayers Association
Greg Wright Taxpayer Activist
John Price Chairman of the Indiana Property Tax Alliance
Pat Harrison, Kim Matthews of concern citizens of New Albany, Clarksville Tax Reform Action Coalition, Jeffersonville Alliance to Abolish Property taxes, Sellersburg Concern citizens Group, Charlestown Taxpayers Coalition and New Albany's Fair Tax Coalition for Property tax Reform.
Our thanks to all those who participated, and helped organize this Rally in such short notice. A heartfelt thanks to all citizens who responded by contacting our legislators.
Your right Mitch..."We say, trust us taxpayers, give us the facts, and let us vote!"
